Electric switch



I (No Model) E. W. RICE, Jr. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

'No. 466,802. I Patented Jan. 12,- 189 2 Ell Rs :0, mam-mac, wAsmmYau, n. c.

UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

EDWVIN \VILBUR RICE, JR, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY,OF CONNECTICUT.

r I ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 466,802, dated January 12, 18912.

Application filed February 13, 1891. Serial No. 381,277. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: may be. These insulating-surfaces F F are Be it known that I, EDWIN WILBUR RICE, preferably molded directly on or with the Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing base A. Their form and that of the termiat Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of nals B B is such as to produce a series of 5 5 Massachusetts, have invented a certain new double-inclined surfaces, as shown in Fig. 2. and useful Improvement in Electric Switches, The contact-plateD rides over these surfaces, of which the following is a specification. and, as shown in Fig. 2, is preferably shaped Myinvention relates to electric switches of so as to fit the hollows thereof. 7 the class known as snap-switches, which The operation of the switch is as follows: 10 break the circuit by quick or snapping action, Supposing that the contact-plate is placed so so as to avoid the injurious effects of sparkas to connect the terminals B B, on turning ing or arcing. It is desirable that the make the handle 0 the spring E is put under tenas well as the break of such switches should sion and tends to drag the contact plate be effected quickly and in such manner that around. Such motion is, however, resisted T5 the operator cannot draw an are by bringing to some extent by the aforesaid inclined surthe switch just to the closed position and then faces over which it has to ride; but on conslowly withdrawing it. tinuing to turn the handle the contact-plate I have devised a switch which fulfills the is caused to slide up over the incline by the above requirements, and is at the same time tension of spring E or the engagement of the 20 simple, and therefore cheap and compact. lng c with the cross-bar, and having reached In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is the top bf the incline is thrown quickly by the a perspective view of a single pole-switch force of the springinto the next hollow. In orembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertider to insure a quick make of the circuit, I cal section through the line of contact of said prefer to make the top or ridge of the insulat- 7 switch as developed on a plane. Fig. 3 shows ing inclined surfaces slightly in advance of the spindle and adjacent parts in vertical the metal terminals 13 B. In order that this section. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectivelya plan may be effected it is necessary that the switch view and a vertical axial section of a double should be turned always in the same direcpole-switch embodying my improvements, tion; but by making this top portion f comgo and Fig. 6 is a development of the lines of parativelyfiat the switch is enabledtoworkin contact thereof. either direction, although especially adapted The base A of the switch, preferably to turning in the said one direction. molded of insulating material, carries the Of course the spindle could form one tercircuit-terminals or binding-posts b b. To minal of the circuit, as indicated by dotted 5 these are connected the switch-terminals lines in Fig. 3. In that case one of the terproper B B. Centrally mounted in the base minals B would be dispensed with or at least is a rotatable spindle 0, having a handle 0, not connected in circuit. preferablyinsulated, and provided with a lug My invention is capable of application to or stop 0. Loosely mounted on this spindle double pole-switches, as illustrated in Figs. 4, 40 is a crossarm or contact-plate D, which is 5, and 6. For this purpose the baseAis made adapted to bridge the terminals B B. The hollow or chambered, and on its upper and lug or stop 0' is adapted to engage the conlower sides are mounted contact and intervent-act-plate D with considerable play or lost ing inclined surfaces, substantially as shown motion and may be defined as a lost-motion in Fig. 1. Co-operating with these contacts 5 5 stop device. A spring E is secured at one and surfaces are two cross-arms D D, both end to the spindle and at the other end to the actuated by means of spindle 0 through the cross-arm, and serves both to cause the consprings E E. To prevent the spindle from tact-plate to tend to follow the spindle in its short-circuiting the switch, Iinsulate the coni rotary movement and to hold said contacttact-levers D D therefrom by means of a shell mo 50 plate against the circuit-terminals or against or sheath 0 of insulating material on said the interposed insulating-surfaces, as the case spindle.

b b b b are the binding-posts required for a double pole-switch. The contact-plates D D being loosely mounted on the spindle and engaging the lugs thereon as before, the operation is precisely similar as that above explained in connection with the single poleswitch.

It will be noticed that the spring E has two functions. One is to throw the contact-plate with a snap action and the other is to press the plate against the metal and insulating incline surfaces, producing efficient contact and aiding in the snap action.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. A circuit making and breaking switch having a circular track with a series of double inclines and a rotary cross-arm for connecting the contacts.

2. The combination, in acircuit making and breaking switch, of a circular track having a series of double inclines, contact-plates in alternate depressions, a cross-arm,a spindle for moving the sa1ne,and a spring connecting the spindle and arm.

3. In an electric switch,the combination of an actuating-spindle,a rotary contact'carried by such spindle, double incline cam-surfaces in the path of said movable contact, and contacts in the depressions of such cam-surfaces and engaging with such movable contact.

4. In an electric switch, the combination of an actuating-spindle, a rotary cross-arm actuated by said spindle, double incline cam-surfaces in the path of said cross-arm, and contacts in the depressions of such inclines and connected-by the cross-arm.

5. In an electric switch, the combination of an actuating-spindle, a rotary cross-arm, a spring connecting said spindle and arm, and double incline cam-surfaces in the path of such arm and having in their depressions contacts engaging with said arm. I 6. In an electric switch, the combination of an actuating-spindle, a rotary contact having endwise and rotary play on said spindle and connected thereto by a rotary lost-motion stop device, double incline cam-surfaces with contacts in the path of said movable contact, and a spring pressingthe movable contact against said double incline surfaces.

7. The combination of an actuating-spindle, a moving contact loosely mounted thereon and engaging therewith by a rotary lost-motion stop device, a fixed contact, and rigid insulating inclined surfaces in the path of such moving contact, and a spring rotatively connected with said actuating-spindle and moving contact and pressing the moving contact against the said fixed contact and surfaces.

8. In an electric switch, the combination of a series of double inclined surfaces, substantially as described, with contacts in the hollow of one or more of said surfaces, a moving contact passing over said surfaces, an actuator on which the moving contact is loosely mounted, and a spring connecting the actuator to the moving contact and pressing the latter against the inclined surfaces.

9. In an electric switch, the combination of a circular seriesof inclined surfaces alternately of metal and insulating material, a rotary cross-arm traveling over said surfaces, an actuating-spindle on which said cross-arm is loosely mounted, and a spring connecting the spindle to the cross-arm and pressing the same against the inclined surfaces.

10. In an electric switch, the combination of a series of double inclined surfaces with contacts in the alternate hollows thereof, a contact-plate traveling over said surfaces, an actuator on which the, contact-plate is loosely mounted, and a spring connecting the actuator to the moving contact-plate and pressing the same against the inclined surfaces, the portions of said inclined surfaces immediately in advance of the fixed contacts being flattened as described, for the purpose set forth.

11. The combination of a rotary actuator, a moving contact having limited axial and rotary play with respect to said actuator and engaging therewith by a lost-motion stop device,a spring having rotative connection with the actuator and moving contact, and a fixed contact and rigid insulating surfaces against which the moving contact is pressed by said spring.

12. A double pole-switch having two series of contacts on opposite sides of and separated by the switch-base, a rotary actuator passing through the base and carrying rotary contacts also separated by said base and cooperating, respectively, with said two series of contacts.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand this 9th day of February, 1891.

EDWVIN WILBUR RICE, JR.

Witnesses:

J OHN W. GIBBONEY, HENRY N. SWEET. 

